TV DVD HOW TO START YOUR OWN COUNTRY
(Universal) coo
When it comes to naming famous Dundonians of our times, Oor Wullie, The View and David Narey’s toe might be up there. But Danny Wallace? The man who, in 1999, dared his then flatmate Dave Gorman to try and find 54 other Dave Gormans certainly doesn’t sound like he’d ever ask for a pie in an inaudible dialect. Yet, in November of 1976, sure enough, the man who changed his life by saying yes at times when he would normally say no (the book Yes Man) and implored people to indulge in Random Acts of Kindness (the name of another book, subtitled ‘365 Ways to Make the World a Better Place’) was sprung from a lady’s tummy in Dundee.
In this DVD release of the show broadcast on the Beeb two years back, Wallace has another brainwave, and instead of helping someone else get famous, he ups sticks to try and find out how easy it is to create your own little nation. Quite tricky as it happens; for one thing you need territory that you can make a claim upon and, frankly, the UN rep seems perfectly correct to reject his application for recognition on the grounds that his London flat doesn’t quite pass the test. Then there’s the problem with the money he gets printed up with his mugshot where the Queen would normally be staring out. And while it’s OK for him to enlist more citizens to his ‘land’ than San Marino or Monaco, none of it cuts the mustard with the
relevant authorities.
It’s certainly a daft and entertaining enough idea which strings out over three hours (the extras double that timescale) with Wallace as an amiable and amusing leader, albeit one who doesn’t quite have the inherent funny bone structure of his buddy Gorman. Here’s a thing: Danny Wallace’s MP in the East London constituency of Bow is George Galloway, another famous Dundonian. Surely the hook for another show? (Brian Donaldson)
Events are listed by date, then city. Submit listings at least ten days before publication to comedy®list.co.uk. Listings are compiled by Sian Bevan.
Glasgow
The Thursday Show The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. ()870 000 0055. 8.30pm. £7 (£0 £3 members). Jolly Joe lleenan hosts with Steve (iribben. Kevin Bridges. Paul Pirie and Jo Dakin. They‘re all ltlltllV. and that's all there is to say. ' Brick Wit House The Brick. 207 Bath Street. 248 2l23. 9pm. £4 (£2). l-‘unny lady \‘iy (iee returns to The Brick (it’s a bttilding. not just a gig based around a
piece of building material). Joining her are Neil Mcl‘at'lane. Dee ('ttstance. Mavid Mac(‘ormack and Vladimir Mc'lavish.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 1.05 1.55pm. £2.50. :\ splash ot comedy. designed to ill into yottr lunch hottr. Jtist £2.50 to get in. then sct'tttnpttous edibles start from the same price.
Heresy The Jekyll a Hyde. I ll Hanover Street. 225 2022. 8.30pm. £3. (Set down early for a seat at the most depraved comedy night in Scotland.
The Thursday Show The Stattd. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £7 (£0 £3 members). Mrs Barbara Nice hosts the evening's spectacular. with the
tnarvellotts Tony Law. (ireg Mcllugh and Martin McAIlister.
An Evening with Mrs Barbara Nice (‘ni/. l4 The Shore. 0845 458 970‘). l0pm. £7. No-nonsense mirth from the housew il'e of British cotnedy. She'll make you wee yourself with laughter. then tnop it up alterwards.
Snatch Social presents Daddy Knows Best The Liquid Room. 9c Victoria Street. 225 2504. l tpm 3am. £5. Born from the lotus ot illegitimacy. the lather ((‘alvenm and son (Hairy :\llts\\oltltl comedy combo unite for the best in cabaret meets clttb night.
Friday 8
Glasgow
Watson’s Wind-up (ilasgow l-‘ilm 'l‘heatre. l2 Rose Street. 552 8l28. lpm. l-‘ree. Weekly topical comedy l’un at the recording of BB(' Scotland's popular sketch show. starring Jonathan Watson. lmprobabble The Btunswick Hotel. 100 I08 Btunswick Street. 552 I552. 8pm. £4 (£3). lmprobabble stride on with their regular Friday night show. jammed full of comedy and sketches.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. t'(i(‘ Building. Renl'rew Street. 08707 870707. 8pm. £10. (irab your sparkly top and a bottle of chardonnay then settle down at Jongleurs. where you can enjoy Wil. Mark Maier. Mark Walker and the mighty Janey (iodley.
The Stand The Stand. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 ()00 ()055. 8.30pm. £9 (£8 £5 members). Satnc line-up as Thursday but everyone know .s that prettier people go ottt at the weekend.
Edinburgh
Out to Lunch - Live! The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. I05 l.55pm. £2.50. See Thu 7.
Live at the Tron The Tron. 9 Hunter Square. High Street. 220 0‘)3l. 8pm. £6 (£4.50). In his M('—ing swansong. M(' Stey en Davidson bids farewell to the sllL‘L‘essltll live at‘ nights that he's run on a monthly basis. ile's decided to go ottt with style. with Michael Redmond. Niall Browne. .»\ndy \‘aughn and Sandy ‘l.ex' (icmmill. l-‘ollow ed by music tront The Years.
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni (‘entrc. (ireenside Place. 08707 870707. 8.l5pm. £l0. The highly popular Roger Monkhouse appears with Kevin (iildca. Pattl Sinha and Steve Harris.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 0pm. £‘) (£8 £5 members). Joy to the world. the weekend has come. The weekend is decorated with Tony Law. Nick Revell. (ireg McHugh and M(' Mrs Barbara Nice. who's worth the entry fee alone.
Bob Doolally’s Penalty Shout Out ('ru/. 14 The Shore. 0845 458 970‘). 10pm. £9. (‘omedy's favourite l'ootball pundit and veteran ot the boo/ier side ol' the gatnc manages to stagger on stage for your entertainment. Join in and w in a pri/e.
Saturday 9
Glasgow
Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. t'(i(‘ Building. Renl'rew Street. ()8707 870707. 8pm. £l3. See Fri 8.
Comedy @ The State The State Bar. I48 ltolland Street. 332 2l5‘). ()pm. £5. M(' Niall Browne. a very charming lrish dude. llllt'tKltlL‘L‘S another sparkling night at otle ol‘ the t't'iendltest wee clubs in Scotland. Barry McDonald. Allan Miller. Al. Kennedy and Phil l)iller shine under the State lights. in a non-sweaty sense. The Stand The Slattd. 333 Woodlands Road. 0870 000 (1055. 0pm. £12. See Fri 8.
Edinburgh Jongleurs Comedy Club Jongleurs. ()mni ('entre. (irecnside Place. 08707 870707. 8.l5pm. £12. See Fri 8.
The Stand The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. 9pm. £l2. See Hi 8.
Mrs Barbara Nice The
country's warmest agony aunt delivers more advice for getting through this darned life. The Stand, Edinburgh, Thu 7—Sat 9 Jun; Cruz, Edinburgh, Thu 7 Jun.
Comedy @ The State One of the rising club nights in Scottish comedy. these two shows unveil the talents of folk like Niall Browne. Susan Calman. Allan Miller and Sian Bevan. The State Bar. Glasgow, Sat 9, 76 Jun.
One-Man Star Wars For all you Jedi-Iovin' wasters 0th there. a night of pure delight. See 5 Things. page 38. Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, Sun 70 Jun.
Gary: Tank Commander Can war ever funny? Sort of. The character created by Greg McHugh does his utmost to find humour in the military struggle. Bret Glasgow. Tue 79 Jun.
Miles Jupp Warming up for taking the Fringe by the scruff of its common neck. the cruel. posh lad prepares to present a softer. more real side. The Stand, Glasgow, Thu 27 Jun.
Glasgow
Michael Redmond’s Sunday Service The Stand. .333 \Yoodlands Road. ()870 000 0055. 8.30pm. £5
(£4 £l members). Michael Redmond has been doing comedy for 3000 years and still makes them laugh. Joining him are (ireg Mcllttgh. Pattl Pirie and Nick Morrow.
Edinburgh
Whose Lunch is it Anyway? The Stand. 5 York Place. 558 7272. lpm. l’ree. (‘ure your hangover blues with some ey er popular itnproy from the Stand (‘omedy Players.
One-Man Star Wars l-‘estival Theatre. 13 2‘) Nicolson Street. 52‘) (>000. 7.30pm. £9.50 £l4. (‘anadian actor ('harles Rttss single—handedly' condenses the action. characters. music and space battles of the three original Slur Hints lilms into one hour. See 5 Things.
I' 2’1 Jun I?00/' THE LIST 37